We all stir a pot equally interesting for there is a compelling story in all of us. I believe in the power of sharing, in the promise of ordinary stories, and that we are made better by sharing them. Ordinary stories make the larger history of the whole; and they often spark the light we need to illuminate where we are headed.
I further believe that the collective effort and cumulative achievements of the over 8 million Filipinos living abroad will help cultivate the elusive prosperity in the Philippines, as she navigates her own path to the First World. This is the great story driving FeudArt.
As far as who I am — just a guy who likes to write. I’m a social worker by training, and I work full-time for a healthcare non-profit. I teach on the side at a local university in Los Angeles, and I moonlight as a policy advocacy trainer for small- to medium-sized non-profits, especially in bad political weather.
Born and raised in the Philippines, moved to California on April 15, 1986 – 2 months after Marcos was overthrown — and have been building a new life and stronger roots in Southern California, since then.
Thank you for visiting. Create often.
R. Bong Vergara, MSW, MA
13 comments
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March 15, 2008 at 4:03 am
Roma
Hi Russ,
This is pretty cool. Random but cool.
I’ve been looking at this other website for AAPIs
http://www.aaa-fund.org/
It’s sort of related to the stuff you have posted.
Peace out.
March 15, 2008 at 6:21 pm
rbvergara
Thanks, Roma for visiting and taking the time to post a comment. Eventhough it is not apparent, the posts have a larger structure to them laid out by the original entry on March 7, 2008 titled, “Attack Ads: Whether to twist or redirect, they stand for voter manipulation.” This March entry propelled this blog and in that entry I make the following points:
“We all have a responsibility to defend against the voter manipulation to come. Manipulating voters erodes the principles of democracy for it cheapens the vote and inherent in a manipulated vote is a naked attack on voter independence. For what is democracy if its citizens are not independent voters and a government does not derive its powers from its free-thinking citizens but in spite of them?
So what are API bloggers to do? For one thing, blog the fact-check and invite our communities to think critically. ”
As I continue posting more fact checks, my sincerest hope is that those who actually stumble onto this blog will find them useful.
Spread the word and contribute your own fact check to this blog, if you’d like.
April 3, 2008 at 4:31 am
eric
Hey rbvergara,
I’m glad I stumbled on your blog myself.
It was by accident really. I was looking something up regarding Asian-American, and faster than one can click, I clicked on to your “Asians for Obama” page.
It is refreshing to dialogue with Filipinos/Filipino-Americans that have stimulating input of topics, especially regarding my folks’ cultural heritage.
Thanks rbvergara! By the way, I am not a Tagalog speaker. My folks are from Zambales so the Filipino vernacular spoken at home is Ilokano. That is the language I understand fluently. It’s all good…
April 3, 2008 at 5:32 pm
rbvergara
eric …I’m also FBI — full-blooded Ilokano!
Taga San Esteban, Ilocos Sur. Ilokano-ek ngata dagitoy posts ko?
Help me spread the word about this blog. I am eager to build a blog space for a bolder, more intelligent and humorous Filipino online community with other folks like you.
April 4, 2008 at 5:48 pm
eric
GREAT…That’s why we immediately bonded. You understand my humor and can celebrate its rythym - despite the criticism of other Flips…at this point, who the hell cares, right?
I’m always on the defense when explaining my “Filipinoness” being that I don’t speak Tagalog, but fluent in understanding Ilokano and with English as my first language ! Ooki-ni-nana kit di ! I said my understanding was fluent, not my writing! Kudos primo…kudos to you! I didn’t choose that my dad join the navy and my mother give birth to me in Subic-bay, then their choosing to live here when I was two years old. Back then, money was always tight, dad was always overseas. One month, became a year, which became a decade, which means I have never visited the Islands.
I’m probably a little older than you, for my dad joined the U.S. in 1945 at the aftermath of WWII, and finally coerced my mom to leave the Phillipinnes in 1963. Then, especially in San Diego, Filipinos walking the streets were either farmers and Navy folks and far and few may I add. To exemplify how few filipinos were compared to today is;
1) In the San Diego metropolis, there was only one Chinese market, “Wu-Chi-Chong”. It no longer exists.
2) The only place my mom could purchase “chicharonnes” was to travel into Tijuana. Of course, her being Filipino (as well as my few relatives in S.D. at the time) took advantage of the dog races in a venue called “Agua Caliente”, for which she won a few pesos that turned into a couple of dollars.
Anyways, this is just a small a morsel of my experience here in the U.S. Which hopefully gives you a little bit more of an understanding of how I celebrate my being Filipino on this side of the Pacific. I went to many elementary schools from kindergarten to the third grade. My junior high experience was at a school where it was predominantly white. My high school expereience was predominantly Mexican, with African-Americans the next largest group. Then there were Filipinos, Guamanians, Samoans and then whites.
More importantly, as I matured, or think I have anyways and that is always challenged by the opinions of others, I always more at ease when dealing with Ilokanos, despite how long I’ve known them. Is that considered a racist, my Ilokano kabsat? It doesn’t help when I respond “no” to a Filipino national when asked whether I speak Tagalog or not. Need I say, after responding and a few minutes to allow them to past judgement, I proudly state I am Ilokano and that is the “real” Filipino language. As you may have detected, I don’t win a lot of popularity contests…Booooyah!
April 4, 2008 at 5:50 pm
eric
I’m sorry, I went to a junior high where it was predominantly “black”, my numerous elementary schools had a predominantly “white” demographic…sorry.
April 4, 2008 at 6:23 pm
eric
If you are wondering, I have only recently embraced the Hispanic side of the Filipino-being. I was an English Second Language instructor for the past eleven years, and my colleagues often teased me of being Hispanic. Quite naturally -given the stereotypical generalizations that define Latino/Hispanic and the fact that English is the western tongue used within the Islands now, I defended their observations and stated that Filipinos were Asian, period. Of course as years passed, with my students equally split between Asian and Latinos I could not help but to begin thinking of their opinions. It is the Latino students learning English that somehow bonded with me quicker than the Asian students (Chinese, Korean and Japanese) , if at all.
Then, a dear colleague of Mexican descent prompted to view a couple of videos from youtube.
1) Filipinas Hispana Mexicana,
2) Mexicanos saludas Filipinotown,
3) Chavacano language
4) Filipinos saluda a centroamerica
It was noted in number two by friends, that the majority of non-Filipinos helping celebrate the festivities were Hispanics…why? Other than the location, but Chinatown, Koreatown and Little Tokyo are only a few miles away, and they no contingents from there…
It is not a major revelation that some Hispanics see us as natural and cultural “primos”, but the fact that they can, and thus differentiates us from the other Asian cultures, maybe something to think about. Then take that foundation and elevating it to an economic scope. Then, the treasure beneath the Philippine mosaic would enable its unlimited potential. Remember, only the Philippines can somewhat identify with three cultural regions, Asian, Anglo-European, and Latino…think about it primo…then perhaps as a foundation of sorts to elevate the Philippines into a dragon of a different kind…
Mabuhay ng Filipinas
Long live the Philippines
Viva las Filipinas…
Mind you three languages, but which is foreign to the Filipino ear? Get it? Ookininana (lol, I hope my spelling is correct) my primo…three cards…we win! Give me my pesos and dollars baby!
April 4, 2008 at 7:38 pm
eric
P.S.
I’ve recommended your site to my friends and colleagues. However, the majority are not Filipino. Those who are, unfortuately in my opinion, do not have the interest of engaging in a conversation with stimulating social and political topics you have to offer, albeit all excellent. They seem to be just content in letting things be without any friction from their daily routine and go on with life. Pity, isn’t it. Still, gotta love em’. If there is any consolation, I’m sure glad I discovered your page!
April 4, 2008 at 9:26 pm
eric
P.S.S.,
My roots are in San Marcelino, Zambales…create on…
May 1, 2008 at 11:19 pm
debalobo
Russ,
My name is Debbie Ebalobo, and I’m a new blogger, but damn I am so glad to have stumbled upon your blog cuz it really speaks to what i hope to accomplish.
Any way, hope your doing well.
Peace& Love
Debs
http://unfortunatecookies.wordpress.com/?csspreview=true
ps family is from Zambales too!
May 1, 2008 at 11:30 pm
rbvergara
debalobo, I’m doing just fine; blessed, really. My roots are from Ilocos Sur. Another reader, eric, is from Zambales.
The more Pinoy voices out there the better. Welcome to blogging.
A word to the wise: focus on your content and general direction. The readership will come.
May 14, 2008 at 9:52 pm
irrewsEmome
Hello my friends
May 16, 2008 at 8:51 pm
rbvergara
irrewsEmome hello back. Thanks for visiting.